The continued arrest of those who don black and light candles to mourn the ‘demise of democracy’ has failed to deter opposition politicians and activists from pressing on with their agenda.

MCPX

Barely 24 hours after 11 more were picked up – including two DAP elected reps – two more vigils have been organised to be held tonight and tomorrow.

The politicians and activists are demanding the dissolution of the Perak state assembly in order for a fresh election to be held.

The northern state has been in political turmoil since Barisan Nasional seized control of the administration following the defections of three Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons.

Last night, the police arrested DAP politicians Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching and Teratai state assemblyperson Jenice Lee as well as nine party workers.

The group held a vigil held outside the office of DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in Kuala Lumpur to showcase their dissatisfaction.

However, the police accused them of staging an illegal assembly. All 11 were released this morning.

Since May 5, a total of 126 people, including politicians, have been arrested for wearing black and celebrating the birthday of murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

It was the second time in as many weeks that Lee was arrested. She was detained by the police in Ipoh on May 7 outside the Perak state assembly when it held its controversial meeting.

Civil society groups have condemned the action, saying: “It is ridiculous that Malaysians now seem to have lost their right to choose what colour they can wear and to light candles.”

Tonight’s vigil will be held at Sri Kembangan outside the service centre of DAP’s Teo, while tomorrow’s event will take place outside Lee’s office in Ampang.

‘Of candles and KFC’

Asked at a press conference today if the vigils would continue in view of the arrests, a defiant Lee replied: “We (will) only end the vigils when Najib ends (the political crisis).”

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been credited with masterminding the BN takeover in Perak.

A visibly vexed Lee stressed that lighting candles is a right.

“If you deny our right to light up candles, it is like you denying our right to eat KFC.”

Lee also accused the police of selective ‘colour-based’ arrest.

“Most of the people who came last night did not wear black but only the ones who wore black got arrested. So how can you justify this?

“If you are not allowed to have an assembly, then would you arrest people at a night market or even at a bus stop – if there are more than three people waiting for a bus?

“So what does this mean? The law itself is not just. The law is there to protect us and not to limit or deny our freedom.”

Focus on fighting crime

DAP publicity chief and PJ Utara MP Tony Pua called on the police to concentrate on fighting crime instead of launching crackdowns on candlelight vigils.

“Last night’s arrests serve only to remind the public of how obtuse the Royal Malaysia Police has become. It was a low-key candlelight vigil. And yet in a remarkable show of force, a nearly 100-strong police team swooped on the gathering,” he said in a statement.

With a tinge of sarcasm, he added: “While DAP fully appreciates the effort by the police to grant some of the party’s low-profile activities instantaneous nationwide publicity, we strongly condemn police intimidation and oppression.”

He said the police should instead focus on its job at hand to fight rampant crime across the country which in the past three weeks have reached an incredulous state when victims have included MCA president Ong Tee Keat and the political secretary to the deputy premier himself.

“The police even suffered their greatest ignominy in recent years when the Johor Bahru OCPD ACP Zainuddin Yaakob was tied up and robbed at knife point in his own house,” he added.

In view of this, Pua called on inspector-general of police Musa Hassan to apologise to the detainees and all Malaysians for wrongful detention and for acting against the prime minister’s call for ‘1Malaysia’.

In addition, he said Najib must carry out his promise of ‘People First, Performance Now’ by finally fulfilling BN’s promise to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.